By Courtney Mills
Expert Author
Article Date: 2011-08-30
Just last week Google expanded the listings in its search results, so how can you take advantage of this change? The first place to start with is your content.
If you're unaware of this news on sitelinks there are more details here, but, essentially, organic search results will now include full-size links, display URL and a one line description below their listing from the pages meta description tags.
Copywriting expert Heather Lloyd-Martin has been quick to jump on the idea of optimizing your content specifically for these expanded sitelinks through a video which I have shared below.
Heathers advice includes examples of what you should and shouldn't do with your meta description tags and is well worth a look.
The main takeaway from this video is that Google is now displaying around 30-35 characters from your meta description tag in each sitelink. While this is not a lot of room to work with, you need to ensure that those opening words result in a meaningful snippet. You can do this by having well written and concise meta descriptions across all pages on your website.
If each of the pages on your website doesn't have a meta description tag, then its time to get busy creating them. Otherwise this is how your listing could look in the Google SERP's:
Doesn't look very professional, does it?
So only with a few changes in the meta description tags, you can now expect to see an increase in your organic click through rate (CTR). Good luck!
About the Author:
Courtney is an online marketing specialist at ineedhits - a leading search engine marketing firm with over 11 years experience. Courtney has been living and breathing marketing for over 2 years and specializes in web and permission email marketing and providing news and opinion to online marketing communities.
By Courtney Mills
